Mexico's Diego Reyes ruled out of World Cup with hamstring injury

MOSCOW -- Diego Reyes has been ruled out of Mexico's World Cup squad with a hamstring injury and will be replaced by Pachuca midfielder Erick Gutierrez.

The Porto defender had a right hamstring injury coming into the World Cup camp but failed to make the squad to play in either of the warm-up friendlies against Scotland on June 2 or Denmark last Saturday.

Coach Juan Carlos Osorio had given Reyes all the time he could to recover, saying on Monday that tests would be carried out and a final decision made on Tuesday.

But a statement from the Mexican federation in the early hours of Wednesday morning in Moscow confirmed: "The player Diego Reyes wasn't able to satisfactorily complete his recovery."

Reyes had been an important part of coach Juan Carlos Osorio's plans for the World Cup and appeared set to be a starter.

But his season with Porto was hampered by injuries and the 25-year-old managed to complete 70 minutes for his club side between the end of March and the World Cup camp.

Gutierrez, 22, had traveled with the Mexico squad to Russia as the squad 24th man, to be called on in case of injury. He is considered one of Mexico's brighter young prospects and play in central midfield.